W.Va. Board Returns Partial Control of Schools to Grant Co.

December 12, 2012

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The Grant County Board of Education regained partial control of its schools Wednesday, following a vote by the state board.

The decision to return decision-making powers in curriculum, policies, facilities, transportation and the school calendar comes after the county improved deficiencies uncovered in an audit by the Office of Education Performance Audits (OEPA). The state board voted to maintain control of personnel and financial issues.

At the direction of the West Virginia Board of Education, OEPA returned to Grant County for a follow-up review in September, and recommended the state Board of Education return partial control as a result of its findings, OEPA Director Gus Penix told the state board.

“Some concerns for developing capacity for board leadership development remain,” Penix said. “The improvements to date warrant conditional approval status and moving forward to returning full control to the county board.”

The state board intervened in Grant County in 2009 after an Office of Education Performance Audits review uncovered serious county board leadership problems as well as personnel and curriculum issues. The initial audit described the situation as “bleak” with students being deprived of an adequate educational system.

Since the intervention, the county has worked to address many of the issues, including irregular actions by the county board and violations of state code and state school policy.

“The improvements in Grant County are good news,” said state Superintendent of Schools Chuck Heinlein. “We look forward to hearing more about the progress as Grant County Schools continue to improve.”

Schools in Fayette, Gilmer, Grant, McDowell, Mingo and Preston counties are currently under state intervention. For more information, contact the Office of Communication at 304-558-2699.